noblesse oblige
The honourable obligation that is the responsibility of those of high rankThe honourable obligation that is the responsibility of those of high rank; in American English this often includes the expectation of benevolent actions such as helping those less fortunate.
» Is there any dignity in having to depend on the noblesse oblige of the rich?
LB · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
1 senses(uncountable)The honourable obligation that is the responsibility of those of high rank; in American English this often includes the expectation of benevolent actions such as helping those less fortunate.
Adel verpflichtet
нобле́с обли́жnoblés oblíž
the obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous
Examples
1 sentencesIs there any dignity in having to depend on the noblesse oblige of the rich?
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Borrowed from French noblesse oblige (literally “nobility obliges”), primarily used as a pBorrowed from French noblesse oblige (literally “nobility obliges”), primarily used as a phrase. See noblesse and obliger.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Lessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable